People often ask us: “How much does it cost to move my 3.5 room apartment? Can you give me an approximate price?” However, this question disregards the fact that the price for a move is calculated from various factors and that each relocation is individual.
Average moving costs at MOVU
In order for you to be able to estimate how the costs for the relocation are made up, we would like to explain the following two points:
- What factors influence the price of your move?
- What are the average costs when moving with MOVU?
- Which costs do you have to consider when moving by yourself?
However, in order to estimate average prices, it is important to take the various influencing factors into account.
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What factors influence the cost of my move?
1. Distance between the old and new place of residence
The distance between the old and new place of residence has an influence on the relocation costs. The price may increase or decrease due to fuel and distance.
2. Loading and unloading address
Not only the distance between the two places of residence plays a role, but also how easy it is to transport the furniture from the apartment to the delivery van. An important factor is the distance from the parking-lot to the entrance of the apartment and the number of steps that have to be overcome. The greater the distance and the more steps there are, the more time the company needs for the move.
It is also important to note whether an elevator is available and how heavy the loads carried in it may be. For example, if you live on the third floor but there is no elevator, it can have an impact on the relocation costs. For this reason, many customers use a furniture lift from the moving company when access to the apartment is difficult or there is no elevator.
3. Your inventory
Basically it can be said: The more you own and the bigger, heavier and more delicate your inventory is, the higher the price for the relocation will be. This is due to the fact that more time will be required for the move.
Also note the amount of cartons you want to move. We recommend to take 20-30 cartons per person into account. A trailer can be filled with 50 moving boxes, depending on its size, and if you have a lot of boxes it is possible that additional moving helpers and moving vans are needed.
It also matters whether large pieces of furniture can be dismantled or not. For example, a 4-door closet with mirror sliding doors takes considerably more time than a small closet with only one door.
As you can see, moving is very individual. For this reason, MOVU either arranges a home visit, or you can specify all the information directly online, so that the companies know exactly what to move. That way it’s possible to offer a fixed price.
Average moving prices at MOVU
MOVU is the largest moving and cleaning platform and executes over 1’000 orders per month throughout Switzerland. In order to get a feel for how much your move could cost, we provide you with average prices. Please note that the price may vary depending on the above reasons.
| Number of rooms | Average relocation costs |
| 1.5 room apartment | CHF 781 |
| 2.5 room apartment | CHF 910 |
| 3.5 room apartment | CHF 1’417 |
| 4.5 room apartment | CHF 1’816 |
| 5.5 room apartment | CHF 2’200 |
| 6.5 room apartment | CHF 2’608 |
The data are taken from the 2019 relocation study carried out by MOVU in cooperation with Basler Versicherungen.
Costs for the relocation of 1.5 room to 2.5 room apartments
The costs for relocating a 1.5 room apartment are CHF 781 on average. For 2.5 room apartments, a relocation costs an average of CHF 910. This corresponds to a workload of about 4 to 5 hours, depending on how far away the new place is. The price for the relocation depends on the inventory. If you only have few pieces of furniture, the move will be cheaper.
Costs for the relocation of 3.5 and 4.5 room apartments
Relocations for 3.5 to 4.5 room apartments are among the most frequent moves. Here too, prices can vary greatly depending on inventory, required moving vans and special accessories. The average costs for relocating a 3.5 room apartment are CHF 1’417, and CHF 1’816 for a 4.5 room apartment. The time and effort for such a move can take up to 8 hours, depending on the distance and inventory.
Costs for the relocation of 5.5 room or bigger apartments
For large apartments or houses with more than 5 rooms it is definitely worthwhile to hire a moving company, because the time and effort is very high. It is important that the moving van is big enough and that the relocation is carried out competently and efficiently by professionals.
With 5.5 room apartments, a move costs an average of CHF 2’200. The relocation for 6.5 room apartments costs CHF 2’608 in average.
Moving quotes at MOVU
MOVU doesn’t only offer you one moving quote, but five. You can compare different moving companies, read reviews and choose the best quote. Fixed prices assure you that you will not pay more than you agreed on. Just send us an inquiry and we will send you quotes for your move!
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Costs for the relocation without professional help
If you decide to organize the move yourself, there are a number of costs that you have to bear in mind:
- moving helpers
- moving vans
- distance
- no-parking zone
- moving materials
- meal for the helpers
Costs for moving helpers
Ask your friends to help you move and they will most certainly do it for free. As a thank-you you can invite them to dinner after the move. However, if your friends are not available you can also ask students or other people who want to earn money on a temporary job. Here you will have to reckon with about CHF 40 per helper and hour.
Costs for the moving van
The price of the moving van depends on its size. In order to estimate the size there are now numerous pages on the internet that will help you to do so. As a rule of thumb, ten cubic meters per room is a good starting point. Often, the rental price already includes a flat rate per kilometer. Or you just have to return the car with a full tank of fuel. Find out exactly what the conditions are and which option is better suited for your move. The cost of renting a van is approximately CHF 50 to 200 per day.
Distance between the apartments
If the cost of fuel is not included in the price of the moving van, you can estimate the approximate cost in advance if you know the distance between the old and the new home.
Costs for the no-parking zone
Especially in big cities it makes sense to block a parking lot in front of the house for the day of the move. You must report this to the authorities in advance. Depending on the canton, the costs for no-parking zone range from CHF 5 to 100. Please also bear in mind that you may have to organize a parking ban in front of the old and new apartment.
Expenditure on moving materials
You will often need a certain amount of money for moving materials. In addition to moving boxes, it is also necessary to organize filling material to ensure that fragile items are packed safely for transport. Furthermore, small things like painting crepe are added. In order to safely store the cartons in the vehicle, you also need helpers such as blankets and lashing straps.
The cost of a moving box is up to CHF 5. One can expect approximately 30 boxes per person. If you need special boxes for glass or clothes, it can get a little more expensive. For this reason, ask your friends whether they still have boxes or other moving material at their disposal.
Meal for your helpers
Provide your friends and moving helpers with enough food during the move. CHF 10 per person will probably be enough. After the move, you can invite your friends to dinner to thank them for their help.
Keeping track of the costs
In order to keep track of your costs for the move even without a moving company, it is best to create a table with the individual items and their costs. Enter estimates and gradually replace them with actual values.
